Interpol issues arrest notice for Gathafi, son Seif

2011-09-09

LYON - World police body Interpol called Friday for the arrest of fugitive former Libyan leader Moamer Gathafi for his alleged crimes against humanity, following a request by the International Criminal Court.

Interpol said it had issued a "red notice" for the arrest of Gathafi, his son Seif al-Islam and his intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi, one day after ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo asked for the agency's help.

Interpol asked its 188 member countries "to take all measures consistent with their national laws to help the ICC locate and apprehend Gathafi."

The "request for Interpol Red Notices will significantly restrict the ability of all three men to cross international borders and is a powerful tool to help in their location and arrest," Interpol chief Ronald Noble said.

"Gathafi is a fugitive whose country of nationality and the International Criminal Court want arrested and held accountable for the serious criminal charges that have been brought against him," the secretary general said.

A red notice by the international police co-operation agency, which is based in the central French city of Lyon, seeks the arrest for an extradition or surrender of a person to an international court based on an arrest warrant.

In June, ICC judges issued arrest warrants against Gathafi, 69, Seif al-Islam, 39, and Senussi, 62, for "crimes against humanity" by troops under their orders, using "lethal force" to quell the uprising against his regime.

Gathafi, who had ruled Libya with an iron fist since 1969, "had absolute, ultimate and unquestioned control over the Libyan state apparatus of power, including the security forces," the ICC said in a court document.

His son Seif al-Islam "the most influential person within his inner circle" is his de facto prime minister, the court added.

As head of military intelligence, Senussi "exercised control over the armed forces under his command that were deployed in the city of Benghazi in order to suppress civilian demonstrations," from February 15 to 20 this year.

His plan to quell the February popular demonstrations by all means involved Libyan soldiers killing civilians as they were leaving mosques and funerals, leaving thousands dead, the prosecutor alleges.

Counter-offensive

Troops loyal to fugitive Moamer Gathafi launched a counter-offensive on Thursday to retake Red Valley, an AFP reporter said, a day after new regime forces celebrated its capture.

Gathafi forces fired rockets and artillery shells aiming to recapture Red Valley, 60 kilometers (40 miles) east of the former leader's hometown in Sirte, and one of the lines of defense for troops there.

Forces fighting for the National Transitional Council (NTC) announced the capture of Red Valley on Thursday, but sporadic fighting continued on Friday morning, an AFP correspondent reported.

The counter-offensive began with the arrival of a convoy of 10 pro-Gathafi vehicles along the front line, on the outskirts of Red Valley, an AFP correspondent said.

After two hours of heavy fighting, NTC fighters fired anti-aircraft guns and held their positions under cover along the road and behind two buildings just outside the town.

The NTC on Thursday announced it was going to storm Red Valley in preparation for assaults on strongholds still held by forces loyal to Gathafi, including his hometown Sirte.

They have given the pro-Gathafi forces until Saturday to surrender.

Source: Middle East Online.
Link: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=47998.